Conveyer chain



E. R. KAST CONVEYER CHAIN Filed Dec. 28. 1922 Patented Get. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES .P- .TEN OFFICE.

EDVVABID B1. KAST, OF PEARLv RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KAST INSET' IING AND GATHERING MACHINE COL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONVEYEB, CHAIN.

Application filed December 28, 1922 Serial No. 609,478.

The present invention is an improvement in the mechanism for conveying groups of signatures to a stitching device; or other in1 strumentality, and particularly is an improvement in the pusher member that engages the rear edges of the signatures of the successivegroups.

. These pusher members are carried by the endless conveyer that progresses the groups of signatures from the point where they are deposited on the conveyer to the support on whiclrthey are stitched or otherwise open ated upon. At the point where the groups of signatures pass onto the support on which they are stitched, the endless conveyer passes around a sprocket wheel and its direction of travel passes fromthe horizontal to the vertical. This is the point at which jamming usually takes place; that is tov say. it frequently happens that for one reason or an other a group of signatures will be stopped at this point while the convey'er carrying the pusher members will continue to move. In the constructions heretofore employed, the'pusher pins have frequently been broken off under these conditions, the links of the conveyer have been wrenche-d out of aline-- ment, and even the sprocket wheel over which the conveyer chain passes at this point.

has been injured. Jams of this kind accordingly have been productive notonly'in loss of time while the difliculty is being attended to, butalso ininjury to the device.

The object of thepresent invention is to provide a pusher member which will firmly engage the rear edges of the signatures of a group and operate in the normal functioning of the parts with all of the effectiveness of a rigid pusher member and yet which .2 will, in the eventof a jam, yield and pass under the ammed signature group, thus protecting the device from injury and minimining the seriousness of such an occasion and the time which is necessary'to remove the ammed signature group and permit the machine .to function normally.

The invention willbe better understood by er nce t e a e p ey ng r w ngs 1'- lustrating. ne expre i n the nv n ive. idea, and wherein-e I V Fig. -l isa side elevation showing a conveyer' equipped bers and also the parts of the apparatus Where ialnwsual y 0w;

lFig. isfa perspective view, 10f a 99.

With prove Pu her mem-' veyer equipped with the improved pusher member Fig. 3 is a cross-section; and v. I Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pusher member. I

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, 5 in d cates a support such as is customarily used a on ""stitcher feeders' and on which the groups of signatures are placed and from which they are removed to any endless conv-eyer 6 by a pusher member 7. This endless conveyer'is usuallv constituted by a phi rality of saddle-shaped links which are connected together in any suitable manner and.

which pass around a sprocket wheel 8- mounted at 9 in a standard 10. The conveyer 6 is mounted on any. suit'ablesupport 1 1 and the signatures are progressed by said conveyer from the dotted lineposition A on the standard 5 to the dotted lineposition B on the main sad lle or support 12. In. Fig.

move and press aga nst the group of signatures that'has been stopped for one reason or another. i

The pusher member illustrated herein is normally unyielding and yet, in the event of. a jam',.it yields in the line of travel of said conveyeri and passes under the jammed group, thus protecting the parts from injury and minimizing the damage to the group of signatures and'the time necessaryto clear away the obstacle. As illustrated, this pusher consists of a base portion 13 that is secured to the conveyer 6 many desired manner. Preferably, this base portion is provided with a downwardly projecting hooked portion let that projects between meeting edges-oftwo ofthe links and is held in place by the-forward edge of one link engaging in t e tecessle Th ase pi y e. ed y sec red. n p si icnjfon t e nclin d, id of tlieiliak by a cr oro he 'mean'spa sa ng thrughhe hor zo tal por i he Mou ted 011 th s, h s; Porti n 13 S hQP Shmemberrrin; 6 which i p ted to "the ase, .q tic at 1. and. Pr jec s item t e n"- gieey side o t e .lin ei hite helbase piece or portion 13 is mounted. A spring 18 is coiled about this pivot 17 and one end 19 of said spring bears against a pin 20 carried by the pusher l6. The other end of said spring bears against a pin 21 carried by the base 13. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, two of these pusher members are preferably mounted in the same transverse plane passing through the conveyer.

There is thus provided. a simple and highly efficient pusher member which is readily secured in position on the conveyer 6 and which functions perfectly under all normal conditions and yields in the event of a jam, thus protecting the device. The simplicity of the pusher renders it possible to manufacture the same very cheaply and quickly and also to place it in position or removing it from the conveyer expeditiouslyand simply.

WVhile, for the purpose of illustration, one expression of the inventive idea has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that the inventive idea may be embodied in various mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 2-- 1. A signature conveyer comprising a' single chain of interconnected links, a separate base piece carried by one of said links, a pusher pin mounted on said base piece and adapted to engage the rear edges or" the signatures, and apivotal connection between the base piece and said pusher pins.

2. A signature conveyer comprising a single endless chain of interconnected links, a separate base piece carried by one of said links, a pusher pin pivotally mounted on said base piece and adapted to engage the rear edges of the signatures, and a spring interposed between the base piece and said pusher pin.

3. A signature conveyer comprising a single endless chain of interconnected links and a plurality 01": devices spaced along said chain, each of said devices consisting of a base piece detachably connected with conveyer link, a pusher pin pivotally mounted on said base piece and adapted to engage therear edges of the signatures and a spring interposed between the base piece and said pusher pin. p

a. In a signature conveyer, the combination of a plurality of interconnected links for supporting the signatures, and a device provided with a hook portion extending between a pair of said links and engaged under one of the latter and a pusher pin for engaging the rear edges of the signatures.

5. In a signature conveyer, the combination of means for supporting the signatures including a link element and a device provided with .ahook portion fitted on one. eX- tremity of said link element and a yieldably mounted pusher pin for engaging the rear edges of the signatures.

6. A' signature pushing device provided with a hook portion adapted to be fitted on one extremity of a conveyer link and a pusher member for engaging the signatures.

7. A signature pushing device provided with a hook portion adapted'to be fitted on one extremity of a conveyer link and a yieldably mounted pusher member for engaging the signatures. p

8. Ina signature conveyer, the'combination of a plurality of links connected together and on which the signatures are supported, a base piece detachably mounted on one of said links and engaged under an edge portion thereof, and a pusher resiliently.

mountedon said base piece and normally engaging the rear edges of the signatures but adapted to yield in their path of travel.

9. In a signature conveyer, the combination of a plurality of saddle-shaped links connected together and on which the signatures are supported, a base piece extending from one of saidlinks and detachably secured thereto, and a pusher member resiliently and pivotally mounted on said base piece and normally engaging the rear edges of the signatures but adapted to yield in their path of travel.

10. In a signature conveyer, the combination of a plurality of saddle-shaped links connected together and on which the signatures are supported,-a base piece detachably mounted on an inclined side of one of said links and engaged under an edge portion thereof, a pusher member normally engaging the rear edges of the signatures but adapted to yield in their path of travel, and a resilient pivotal connection between the pusher member and said base piece.

11. In a signature conveyer, the combi nation of a plurality of saddle-shaped links connected together and on which the signatures are supported, a base plate 'detachably secured on an inc1ined side of one of said links, a pusher member pivotallymounted on the base plate and normally. engaging the rear edges of the signatures but adapted to yield in their path of travel, and a spring interposed between the pusher member and said base plate.

12. In a signature conveyer, the combination of means for supporting the sign: tures including a link element, a base plate mounted on the link element and havinga projecting part provided with a recess receiving an edge portion of said link element, and a pusher member mounted on the base plate for normally engaging the rear edges of the signatures and adapted to yield in heir path of travel. r

13. In a signature conveyer, the combination of a plurality of saddle-shaped links connected together and on which the signatures are supported, a base plate mounted on an inclined side of one of the links and having a projecting part provided with arecess receiving an edge portion of said link, a pusher member mounted on the base plate and normally engaging the rear edges of the signatures, and a connection between the base plate and pusher member providing for yielding movement of the latter in the path of travel of the signatures.

14. A signature pushing device compris ing a base provided with a projection having a recess therein adapted to receivean edge portion of a conveyer link, and a pusher member mounted on the base for movement toward and away from the same.

15. A signature pushing device comprismovement toward and away from the same,

16. A signature pushing device comprising a base provided with a projecting recessed part constituting means for detachably securing the device on a conveyer link, a pusher member pivotally mounted on the base, and a spring interposed between the base and said pusher member.

In testlmony whereof I have signed this speclficatlon.

EDXVARD R. KAST'. 

